INVESTIGATION OF FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA

FROM: ACTING PROSECUTOR DENNIS CALO

DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced an investigation into a house fire at 110 Brinkerhoff Street, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey that involved a fatality. The investigation is being conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor=s Office Arson Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino, and the Ridgefield Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Edward Rose.

On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, the Bergen County Communications Center received a report of a house fire with an occupant trapped inside at 110 Brinkerhoff Street, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. When the Ridgefield Park Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene, the single family residence was consumed by heavy fire and the occupant, Luis Ocha-Sanchez, a 73-year-old male, was unaccounted for and presumed to be inside.

During the investigation, the remains of Luis Ocha-Sanchez, pending positive identification from the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office, were located inside the residence. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.